South Africa just gave the world five reasons to smile — from making waves in science and surfing to being crowned the friendliest nation on Earth.
Global (24 March 2025) – South Africa has been making international headlines again. And while you might already be thinking of the usual water cooler conversations or the things being debated around dinner tables – let me stop you right there.
I’m not going to mention any of “those” things.
a) We’re all about good things.
b) Please refer to (a).
Because this weekend, something quietly spectacular happened: the world noticed us… for all the right reasons. We found a few lekker headlines that will make your heart full and remind you exactly why we call this beautiful place home.
Let’s start with the UK’s Express, which called South Africa the friendliest country in the world. Yup, you read that right. Out of 27 countries tested by digital financial services company Remitly, South Africa ranked number one in “agreeableness” — a trait tied to being kind, empathetic and easy to get along with. And I know what you’re thinking… this is old news but not so much. You may even remember reading the story on Good Things Guy. The entire article was a love letter to South Africa, encouraging tourists to come visit us.
“Known for being warm and welcoming, South Africans are generally happy to engage in conversation, socialising, and plenty of jokes,” the article said.
And with 11 official languages, gorgeous landscapes, and 20-degree weather in March, it’s no surprise visitors love it here. Move over Greece and Mexico… Mzansi just raised the friendliness bar.
But wait – there’s more.
The Independent ran a deep-dive titled “Why it’s time to stop underestimating South African wine”, and let me tell you, this one poured out some serious pride.
The article explored how our wine, once overlooked as a budget-friendly option, is now being recognised for its excellence. Our terroir – which is just a fancy word for our incredible soil, climate and elevation – rivals Burgundy, Bordeaux, and even Champagne. From Stellenbosch’s bold reds to the refined bubbles of Robertson’s Graham Beck and the legendary Vin de Constance at Klein Constantia – the UK finally seems to be catching on to what we’ve known all along: South African wine isn’t just good. It’s world-class.
“South Africa doesn’t just mimic European wine regions – it carves its own identity,” the journalist wrote. And honestly, we couldn’t have said it better.
And then there was a bit of unexpected surf history. The magazine Surfer published a piece that unearths something even most locals don’t know: the first stand-up surfer in South Africa was a woman.
Her name was Heather Price.
In 1919, at Muizenberg, she borrowed a wooden Hawaiian-style surfboard from two U.S. Marines and stood up on a wave — decades before surfing took off in the country. A photo from a local newspaper captured the moment, and now she’s officially part of South Africa’s surf story. One of the coolest parts? Her family still has the photos, and they say she made it clear that she didn’t just lie on the board — she surfed standing up. How’s that for a history rewrite?
But it wasn’t all sand and sea. IFL Science (yes, that prestigious science publication) reported on a groundbreaking moment in quantum physics – with South Africa at the centre of it.
A new satellite link using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) securely transmitted information between China and Stellenbosch University, marking the first time this has ever been done across hemispheres — and a whopping 12,900km apart.
Dr Yaseera Ismail, who leads the local team, summed it up beautifully: “International and national collaborations are essential to drive cutting-edge research and push scientific boundaries.”
This kind of innovation quietly positions South Africa as a serious player in future tech… and that’s not something you’ll see on most newsfeeds.
And finally, Travel Noir gave us a feel-good, family travel moment. Reality TV star Gizelle Bryant, known for The Real Housewives of Potomac, brought her three daughters to South Africa – sharing joyful moments of safaris, coastline adventures and xylophone jam sessions with local musicians.
“What I will do is show my kids the world 🌍❤️ #CapeTown South Africa loading…” she wrote, alongside stunning photos of the family soaking in the magic of our country.
From lions to live music, from the Cape of Good Hope to heartwarming smiles, their trip was a love letter to our land.
Now listen – I’m not saying ignore the news. Read the hard stories. Understand what’s happening in our country and the world. But also – also – read the good things too. They give you perspective. They show another side to our story. And here’s a happy truth: when you start looking for good news… you tend to find more of it.
South Africa isn’t just surviving. It’s surprising, inspiring and showing up in places we never expected.
Keep your eyes open. Keep your heart open. Because sometimes the world sees what we forget to notice: this place is special. And we’ve got every reason to celebrate it.
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